126. 多許 tú hau‘ and ’hau ’ki 好幾 describe a great number or several. Being double inseparable particles, they form a complete member of a sentence alone, and therefore can be separated from their words, and placed afterwards with a copula and a terminating particle.
- 多許物事 tú hau‘ meh zz‘, a great many things.
- 物事有多許拉 meh zz‘ ’yeu tú hau‘ lá, there are very many things.
- 好幾个人 ’hau ’kí kú‘ niun, a good many men.
- 人有好幾个 niun ’yeu ’hau ’kí ku‘, there are several men.
127. 多 tú, several, like tsóng‘ cannot form a complete member of a sentence alone, and therefore precedes its word. It is used extensively with, the specific substantive particles already alluded to. The word tu, many, retains its old sound ta for this use.
- 買之大斤者 ’má tsz tá kiun ’tsé, have bought several catties.
- 多囘 tá wé‘, several times.
- 多個國度 tá kú‘ kóh dú‘, or tá kóh, several kingdoms.
- 多句說話 tá kü‘ seh wó‘, many sentences.
128. The words 全, 禿 dzén, t’óh foil following their substantives, usually from the first word in the concluding member of the proposition.
- 米咾肉禿有 ’mí lau niók t’óh yeu, there are both rice and meat.
- 人全拉看戲 niun dzén ’lá k’ön‘ hí‘, they are all looking at the play.
Obs. Pronunciation places these auxiliary particles in closer union with the following word, than with their own noun. Yet the rhythmus often attracts the two members into one sentence. E.g.
- 男女禿有 nén ’nü t’oh ’yeu, the men and women are all there.
- 官府全好 kwén ’fú dzén ’hau, the mandarins are all good.
129. The plural is also formed by repetition.
- 人人來者 niun niun lé ’tsé, the men are all come.
- 國國太平 kók kók t’á‘ bing, nations all at peace.
- 世世代代 sz‘ sz‘ dé‘ dé‘, age after age.